It is too obvious that the attendance at this year's IGOLD was larger than ever. Capitol staff noticed and committed this was largest turnout ever for our event. I'll let the estimators come along with their ideas of how many thousands were there. But for news reports saying hundreds, or 1,500 attended, that is an outright fabrication.Is it an intentional attempt to downplay the demand for Right to Carry? Is it meant to minimize the support thisissue has among the citizenry of this state?

Is it an attempt to diminish our efforts?

All I can say is, if that's what the media is trying to do - IT ISN'T WORKING! IGOLD continues to grow, our voice continues to grow louder - wish all of you could have been in the rotunda and heard the sound of THOUSANDS of Right to Carry supporters joining together in a 'concealed carry now' demonstration. Phenomenal!

Let's gather all the media links for IGOLD 2012 and post them in this thread. Thanks!Fox Illinois

"It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." --Samuel Adams

Once again the media yawns at us. Oh well, we know we were there and the legislators know we were there so screw the media.

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks"
-Thomas Jefferson-

Now two flags fly above my land that really sum up how I feel. One is the colors that fly high and proud the red, the white, the blue. The other ones got a rattle snake with a simple statement made, don't tread on me, is what it says and I'll take that to my grave
-Aaron Lewis-

In an article on the day's activities in the Legislature the Chicago Tribune casually mentioned that "more than a thousand" gun rights activists were in the capitol.
Yeah...more than a thousand...try about 6000 - 7000.
The media is just not capable of telling the truth.

Lad Tucker, of Moline, made his first trip to the Capitol Wednesday for the rally. Tucker said he carries a gun, but only when he drives across the Mississippi River into Iowa where lawmakers passed a concealed carry law in 2010.

"I live five minutes from Iowa, and I have a non-resident permit (there), and I carry every day," Tucker said. "They trust me, but my own home state doesn't."

Tucker said if Illinois lawmakers see just how many gun owners support concealed carry, maybe the legislation can make it through the General Assembly.

"The Supreme Court has decided that the amendment confers a right to bear arms for self-defense, which is as important outside the home as inside." -Moore v. Madigan, 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, December 11, 2012

WICS 20 Springfield and WCIA 3 Champaign both reported that "thousands of gun rights supporters gathered in Springfield today". Film from both, better coverage than we've had in the past. I haven't looked, but the video may be posted on their websites later.

Tim

Are you a member of the ISRA?? If not, why not?? Join over 18,000 other Illinois gun owners in the fight for your rights!!!

The Roman Empire fell due to a large, corrupt government, overspending, an overextended military, insecure borders, and the illegal immigration of Goths, barbarians (anyone who was not educated), and religious fanatics. Sound familiar?

"..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.."--Samuel Adams

I think this is the 6:00 version, I haven't watched it all the way through.

Channel 3 doesn't have anything posted yet.

T

Are you a member of the ISRA?? If not, why not?? Join over 18,000 other Illinois gun owners in the fight for your rights!!!

The Roman Empire fell due to a large, corrupt government, overspending, an overextended military, insecure borders, and the illegal immigration of Goths, barbarians (anyone who was not educated), and religious fanatics. Sound familiar?

"..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.."--Samuel Adams

Lad Tucker, of Moline, made his first trip to the Capitol Wednesday for the rally. Tucker said he carries a gun, but only when he drives across the Mississippi River into Iowa where lawmakers passed a concealed carry law in 2010.

"I live five minutes from Iowa, and I have a non-resident permit (there), and I carry every day," Tucker said. "They trust me, but my own home state doesn't."

Tucker said if Illinois lawmakers see just how many gun owners support concealed carry, maybe the legislation can make it through the General Assembly.

Great Job, Lad Tucker!

-- Frank

They didn't spell my name right...It's with two d's (Ladd). The down side was we only had 5 riders out of of the Quad Cities. My own fault too as I could not find anyone who could take off work to come with me. Next year I'll just hog tie someone and drag them along. And it was my second time down.

Looks like its headlined in the herald & review. Pretty much a negative article with a bunch of quoted democrats stating they believe it won't pass, election year and all.

Yeah, that's the Kurt Erickson article. It'll show up all over the state in every paper owned by Lee Enterprises and others. The media just can't get behind RTC, it's always cast in a negative light, even if it's ever so slightly. Here's the very same article from the Mattoon/Charleston paper.

And Drylok, who says there weren't 6K of us? I was at the back of the march. We were still two blocks+ from the Capitol when the first marchers crossed Second Street. I'll bet it was closer to 8 than is was to 4. JMHO!

And what's with Luetchtefeld's comment?? Why wouldn't a rep from Washington county vote FOR RTC to GAIN votes??

UAB

Are you a member of the ISRA?? If not, why not?? Join over 18,000 other Illinois gun owners in the fight for your rights!!!

The Roman Empire fell due to a large, corrupt government, overspending, an overextended military, insecure borders, and the illegal immigration of Goths, barbarians (anyone who was not educated), and religious fanatics. Sound familiar?

"..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.."--Samuel Adams

SPRINGFIELD — Thousands of gun owners marched Wednesday on the Capitol to demand lawmakers give Illinoisans the right to carry concealed weapons.

“We’re here to remind legislators that 49 other states have concealed carry laws and that 49 other states aren’t wrong,” said John Naese of Philo, who helped organize several of the busloads of people who rallied for gun rights.

Their wishes, however, may be thwarted by election year politics.

With every member of the General Assembly up for re-election this year, legislators may be inclined to shy away from controversial votes.

A measure bringing Illinois in line with the rest of the nation on the issue of concealed weapons is just one of the hot-button issues that might be left on the backburner until after the November balloting.

“I would be surprised if it came up,” said state Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, R-Okawville. “I doubt if a lot of people want to be on that vote.”

A number of gun-related proposals are positioned for votes in the House.

Just as downstate lawmakers have been pushing to legalize concealed weapons, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is backing legislation that would create a handgun registry.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, also is pushing for a tax on ammunition to be used to help trauma centers.

Those two issues lit a fire under Steve Mann, an Olney retiree who hadn’t previously attended a gun lobby day.

“I didn’t vote for the mayor of Chicago to be the mayor of Illinois,” Mann said. “They just keep trying to chip away at our rights.”

A concealed weapons proposal that fell six votes short of passage in the House last May has some lawmakers hopeful they will get closer if a vote is call for this spring.

Yes, their 10:00 news quoted 6,000 to 8,000 and the report asked one of the anti Chicago legislators something like this..."49 other states have some form of CC. Illinois is the only state that doesn't have it. Are they all wrong?" SHE REPLIED WITH A YES.

On the road this morning 101.5 WBNQ said thousands marched and that Illinois is the only hold our for CCW. It was quick but positive coverage. My dad emailed me this link this morning from the pantograph. http://www.pantagrap...1871e3ce6c.html

Perhaps we could have someone stationed at each working entrance (volunteers) to count those coming in. Each person could take a 1 hour shift from the time the Capitol doors open until say 4 pm. I guess that would only count the people that went into the buildings then.

Two years ago it was estimated around 7500. Last year estimate was about 6000. I'm pretty sure this year's turnout was larger than the 2010 group. Last year the Marion bus was about 25% empty but every seat filled this year. And a few on the list that didn't show up which would have left a few people standing if they had (the bus company sent a 50 seat bus instead of the 56 seat one that was ordered.) I still stand behind my estimate of 8547 people.

WBBM radio had another 15 second blurb on it and of course they got the details wrong, reporting that anyone would be able to carry a gun if the legislation passed.
God they love fear mongering.

~If you speak of a gun as a toy, then you see medical waste as playground filler. Yes, it means you're a screwed up individual.~~"An invasion of mainland America is unwise. Behind every blade of grass a rifle would await us"-Yamamoto IsorokuI predicted that Chicago/Cook county will be sold out in order to get "shall issue".Based on the restrictions on carry in Chicago/Cook County, I was right.

Add two to whatever total you come up with. I was at a meeting until 1230pm and decided to go straight to the capitol with my wife after that. Kind of bummed because I was looking forward to hitting any t shirt stands that were set up at the PCCC, and also looking forward to the ISRA pens I missed out on last year because my wife woke up quite ill:-(

Talked to Sen. Koehler at the capitol. He told me we're 2 votes short in the senate, but we are getting some backing from the black caucus that we didn't have last year....FWIW.

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined.... O sir, we should have fine times, indeed, if to punish tyrants, it were only sufficient to assemble the people!"

"I am not well versed in history, but I will submit to your recollection, whether liberty has been destroyed most often by the licentiousness of the people, or by the tyranny of rulers. I imagine, sir, you will find the balance on the side of tyranny."- Patrick Henry

Chanell 3 got it wrong. For some reason they said it passed the house. It passed in house committe but this leads you to believe it passed on the floor. How do we get a hold of them to ask for a correction?

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks"
-Thomas Jefferson-

Now two flags fly above my land that really sum up how I feel. One is the colors that fly high and proud the red, the white, the blue. The other ones got a rattle snake with a simple statement made, don't tread on me, is what it says and I'll take that to my grave
-Aaron Lewis-

Are you a member of the ISRA?? If not, why not?? Join over 18,000 other Illinois gun owners in the fight for your rights!!!

The Roman Empire fell due to a large, corrupt government, overspending, an overextended military, insecure borders, and the illegal immigration of Goths, barbarians (anyone who was not educated), and religious fanatics. Sound familiar?

"..it does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.."--Samuel Adams